Jeramie Posted October 7, 2008 Report Share Posted October 7, 2008 The story: Friday, October 3rd. I tried to get out of town by 10:00 but it didn’t work out. I actually didn’t leave until after noon. I had to be in Cimarron County (Boise city) by no later than 8:00 if I wanted to hunt the next morning. Finally, I got our girls dropped off at the in-laws, got everything gathered up and was on my way. The drive in took longer than expected. The map I printed said just under 7-hours. I made it to the hotel where the wardens were checking us in before 8:00. I signed in and then had to get a signature from the land owner before I could hunt. Luckily the guy was great. He met me and I was able to get his signature before the night was over. Saturday morning he was going out to check his crops. He offered to show me his plots of land. I met him at roughly 8:00 and the hunt was on. His nephew, Kyle, was the one setting me up with the property. Kyle was out cutting circles of corn and wouldn’t be back until Sunday. Not knowing the land and such made things a little harder but I came to hunt. I hunted all day Saturday. I made the trek between three different plots of land. It was a total of about 50 miles round trip. Still, I kept and eye on the land most of the morning. About mid morning I went to check out some crop circles on the Oklahoma/ Texas line. I topped the hill and saw 9 antelope bedded in a field directly across from the land I was hunting. I was sick! I called Kyle to find out whose land it was in hopes I could get permission to hunt. Come to find out it was a land owner that had denied me access. I called Kyle back, he called the land owner, and they said "Help Yourself." Hunt on! In the panhandle you can see for MILES, literally. There are very, very few trees and almost no natural landmarks (like hills, valleys, etc.). It fits the antelope perfectly. I started a stalk. Luckily the antelope had hid on the side of the only "hill" around. It was more of a depression. They were blocking themselves from the 35mph winds. My hopes were that I could somehow sneak to the back of the small hill. As I started walking, roughly 1000 yards from the animals, they locked onto me. They immediately stood up and started looking my direction watching my every move. I knew I was busted so I had to change plans, quickly. At this point they were roughly 800 yards away. I knew I couldn’t come close to a shot at that distance, especially with a .243 in 35mph cross winds. So I took a chance. I started scooting on my rear down into the depression. Mixed in with native grass are sand burrs and other uncomfortable weeds. I slid down roughly 200-250 yards of rough ground. As soon as I broke through the weeds I noticed a couple of prairie dog towns. They decided to bark and alerted the lopes even more. It was now or never. I estimated the range at roughly 475 in a straight line once I got setup. I adjusted for the wind and kicked up dust at a does feet. At that point I wasn’t comfortable making the shot so I took out my frustration on some prairie dogs. After a couple of boxes of shells I went back to the car and started driving again. On my way to the second plot I noticed a bunch of lopes on another gentleman’s place less than a half mile from where I was hunting. I ran back to the closest house and asked the land owner for permission. He granted it to me and signed the slip. Game on again! I parked down the road about 3/4 of a mile and started walking to an old railroad trestle. It was about 10’ above the flat ground and offered a lot of cover. I finally made it to the trestle and started slowly slipping to the flat surface. Much to my surprise the antelope had already been watching my car and were on full alert. When I finally topped the trestle I realized they had heard me shut off the car and had moved about 300 yards out. Again, another 400 yard shot. I’m shooting Hornady BTSP, hand loaded a little hot. The wind was at my back, so I though “maybe, just maybe.” I drew down, adjusted for elevation and again, kicked up dust at her feet. They were gone. By now I was heart broke. That night Kyle called to tell me he had been rained out. He would be in that night after a 250 mile drive. I was in town eating when he arrived so I bought him and his girlfriend dinner. After we ate we went through some shots I took of Muley bucks and such back at the hotel. He took off and returned the next morning at 7:00. Much to my surprise my Mexican food from the night before showed up about 5:00a.m. We loaded in his truck and took a road to a crop I hadn’t hunted. We sat until daylight… nothing. We then started making a trek to the original spots where I started. On the way we passed a buck and doe standing across the road from some of their land. We put a little pressure and they ran across to his family’s land. I stopped them broadside with a whistle at roughly 450 yards. I didn’t want to just fling lead again so I let them walk. We made it back to the plot. He immediately noticed three lopes in an open field with 3’ tall grass. We parked and started a stalk. We jumped to Muley does and like to had a heart attack. We were literally on them before they busted. It pushed the lopes out a little but after about an hour we were within 300 yards, shooting into the wind. I got ready for a shot and looked for a doe in the three…… all bucks. Had to pass. This was starting to get old. We moved on, drove out several fields glassing. Finally we turn down another road and drive by some more of his family’s land. Lying in the open is a buck and two does. They were lying directly against a little mound in the field. It was literally the only thing over a foot tall for miles but maybe, just maybe it would be enough. We spun around and parked on the far side of the little hill. All and all it raised about 4’-5’ above the flat terrain. We stalked up close to the mound but no lopes. We thought they had busted when suddenly I saw a couple of bug eyes poking over the hill. We never expected it but we had stalked up to 45 yards from them (Kyle was using my range finder). Before we could do anything the lopes busted out and ran for it. I whistled and they stopped at 217 yards. I didn’t have a broad side shot but I know I can drive tacks at 200 yards with this rifle so I settled on a shoulder bone and let her fly. Even in 35 mph winds the bullet found its mark. She jumped sideways, spun, and ran another 100 yards. I knew I hat hit her and it looked good but I needed conformation. Kyle gave it, “Man you gutted her!” I thought he meant I had gut shot her but I had literally gutted her. The bone and bullet tore through her at an angle and opened up her cavity. Pretty much everything was hanging out. I put another shot into her after closing to roughly 250yards and she folded. It was time for the work to start. Kyle had brought his new Grizzly 700 and it made life a lot easier. She went down in the middle of a several hundred acre crop circle. Dragging would have been a chore. I got to see a LOT of first including Jack Rabbits, pheasant, and blue quail. I also shot a lot of prairie dogs. It was a great, great hunt. Land owners sale tags on a regular basis out there. I will definitely be looking for another in the future! Notice how dark my face is. We hunted in those 35mph winds. It kicked up dust in my face all morning. At this point I was literally coated in dust and sand.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toddyboman Posted October 7, 2008 Report Share Posted October 7, 2008 What a hunt!!! Great story! Thanks for sharing and CONGRATS!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ousoonerfan22 Posted October 7, 2008 Report Share Posted October 7, 2008 Congrats! Did you see any rattlesnakes around the prairie dog towns? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texastrophies Posted October 7, 2008 Report Share Posted October 7, 2008 Congrats, great story and hunt. :D:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elnor Posted October 8, 2008 Report Share Posted October 8, 2008 Fantastic! Congrats again, Jeramie! How much do landowner tags go for does? Bucks? And do they have the same season dates/duration as the once-a-lifetime draw tags? Also, spoke with my mom last night. She got a shot yesterday, but no doe down. She was hunting again today. I haven't heard from them yet but I'm on pins and needles! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WHISKEYSWAMP Posted October 8, 2008 Report Share Posted October 8, 2008 great hunt... congrats! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevebeilgard Posted October 8, 2008 Report Share Posted October 8, 2008 nice looking doe there. notice the horns? does have horns, folks. but only bucks have a black face & cheeks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Colorado Bob Posted October 8, 2008 Report Share Posted October 8, 2008 Antelope hunting is just plain FUN. Conglads---CB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruttinbuc Posted October 8, 2008 Report Share Posted October 8, 2008 That was a fun hunt...wish I could of been there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeramie Posted October 8, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 8, 2008 Congrats! Did you see any rattlesnakes around the prairie dog towns? He was within roughly 50 yards.... Does that count? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeramie Posted October 8, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 8, 2008 Fantastic! Congrats again, Jeramie! How much do landowner tags go for does? Bucks? And do they have the same season dates/duration as the once-a-lifetime draw tags? Also, spoke with my mom last night. She got a shot yesterday, but no doe down. She was hunting again today. I haven't heard from them yet but I'm on pins and needles! If they cant close the deal let me know. I will try to find someone that can help them. I noticed the Doe tags were on Ebay for $100 each and didnt sale. Land owner tags are filled in December. I think the one buck tag that did sale was just under $300. I wish I would have had a buck tag in a BAD way. I saw some really, really nice bucks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeramie Posted October 8, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 8, 2008 nice looking doe there. notice the horns? does have horns, folks. but only bucks have a black face & cheeks. And I didnt learn that until last week..... We did spot a decent buck without a face patch. He had a large body and good horns. I would have shot him but we couldnt close that deal. That was a fun hunt...wish I could of been there! I could have used the help a couple of times.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ohiobucks Posted October 8, 2008 Report Share Posted October 8, 2008 Very cool Jeramie, great story. Congrats on your doe! :cool: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hutchies Posted October 8, 2008 Report Share Posted October 8, 2008 Awsome hunt bud. Great pics..........................Sounds like you had a blast. Time to hit the whitetail now. I know that big boy is still in your mind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeramie Posted October 8, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 8, 2008 Oh yeah. Ive got to get my bow out and get ready. This is the first season to ever sneak up on me! Next week is my friday off. Im gearing up to get out next week. I just simply cant get it done this week. I also need to shoot my ML'er. That will be here in a blink! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted October 8, 2008 Report Share Posted October 8, 2008 Great story Jeramie. Congratulations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hammerforged Posted October 9, 2008 Report Share Posted October 9, 2008 Congratulations Jeramie, beautiful doe! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coorsdrifter Posted October 13, 2008 Report Share Posted October 13, 2008 Congrats!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dakota Posted August 15, 2010 Report Share Posted August 15, 2010 Very nice goat, Jeramie! I shot also gutted an antelope within a few days of yours. That .30-06 tends to rip a good size hole in a goat at 75 yards! Congrats! Did you like the meat? Dakota Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeramie Posted August 15, 2010 Author Report Share Posted August 15, 2010 I wanted to eat the meat as I typically dont kill something I wont eat (within reason) but couldnt get past the smell. Fun animals to hunt but not to eat! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dakota Posted August 15, 2010 Report Share Posted August 15, 2010 I wanted to eat the meat as I typically dont kill something I wont eat (within reason) but couldnt get past the smell. Fun animals to hunt but not to eat! Whoa whoa whoa whoa...WHOA! :jaw: Blasphemy! Antelope meat is incredible! Between my Dad and I, we put (on average) 2-3 goats in the freezer each year and, this past year, we put seven in between us. It also depends on the time of year though. What was the weather like when you were out there? If shot in warm temperatures, get it on ice quick. I've shot goats both in hot and cold weather and it all tastes the same, but I put it on ice immediately when I shoot it in the heat. Dakota Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeramie Posted August 16, 2010 Author Report Share Posted August 16, 2010 It was iced quickly but we are use to whitetail meat. I opened the bag when I got it home to wash the meat and my wife said, "What is that smell?" from the living room. It was STRONG. I wouldnt have eaten it so I know my wife wouldnt have touched it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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